Friends and family know that I have been visiting Atlantic City for decades and they often ask me for advice about various aspects of a visit to the city. When they inquire about a place to enjoy a great meal, perhaps for a special occasion, I generally suggest that they leave the confines of the casino and visit one of the local family owned spots.

United Lounge Enhancements in Las Vegas and other cities | Now United is making another move as it experiments with new food and beverage choices in select lounges around the U.S., which includes the TravelZork favorite of Las Vegas. The strategy is also being tested in Houston Intercontinental, Orlando and Boston.

After perusing the Jose Garces’ Okatshe Tropicana Atlantic City menu we found the hidden door in the back of the Japanese candy shop and walked into a large and whimsical space, set up like an Izakaya (informal Japanese gastropub) in an alley of Tokyo.

Dining Near The Vegas Strip | Here are a couple of my favorite new off-strip dining hot spots along with a very newly opened restaurant. I’m including Uber ride-hailing estimates so you can budget time and money. You won’t find this kind of dining experience in a Las Vegas casino.